Element is a messaging and collaboration platform built on Matrix, an open standard for decentralised communication. It offers web, desktop and mobile apps for chat, voice and video calls and file sharing, with support for end-to-end encrypted conversations. With the Element Server Suite, organisations can run their own Matrix server on their own hardware, in a private cloud or in an air-gapped environment. Bridges can also connect Matrix to other chat networks.
Element is developed by Element Creations Limited, a company based in London. It is therefore subject to UK law and sits outside the EU. The software is open source (AGPLv3 or later, alongside a separate commercial licence). Because Matrix is an open protocol and the server can be self-hosted, an organisation can choose the infrastructure and the jurisdiction in which its data is kept. If you use a service hosted by Element, it is sensible to agree the data location with the vendor in writing.